Why should I believe in religion? | Evolution of Morality through Human Intelligence

 Why should I believe in religion? If I follow the ethics defined by society So, what need do I have for religion now?

Claim: The moral values that guide human society today are, in fact, derived from religion. The societal ethics that people speak of are actually gifts from religion. The question of which religion's ethics we are following, and which religion one should accept, is a separate matter, typically discussed under the subject of interfaith dialogue. However, it is undeniable that discussions on ethics exist within every major religion, which supports this claim.

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یہی آرٹیکل اردو میں پڑھنے کے لیے کلک کریں

Counter-Argument: The Evolution of Morality through Human Intelligence

The question arises that this moral evolution is the result of human intellectual evolution. (In response, the question arises) that if moral evolution occurred due to intellectual evolution, then why hasn’t such progress happened among the millions of other creatures in this universe, which have existed for millions of years? Their way of living has remained the same since they came into existence.

For example, a lion hunts, a hyena snatches its prey, a vulture comes to the carcass, and after fighting with each other, they tear off pieces of flesh. Then other smaller animals come and fight one another to eat it. This pattern has continued from the beginning, with no moral progress.

Key Argument:

These behaviors fundamentally exist in human nature as well, as humans are also living beings like animals. But religion taught humans that someone else’s property or life is not permissible for others; it belongs only to the rightful owner. And if someone takes it without permission, it is a crime.

This teaching was later adopted by human intellect. Now, if someone claims that stealing is wrong because reason demands it, this claim will not be accepted unless they can provide an example of a society that has no connection with religion, where all ethical values are purely the product of reason.

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یہی آرٹیکل اردو میں پڑھنے کے لیے کلک کریں

Can Social Morality Exist Without Religion?

A challenging question related to reason and logic, not tied to any religion: Which society established these social ethics? (Are you talking about a society that is influenced by religion, where 99.99% of the people believe in and follow a religion?) Does your reason determine that the ethics of a society, where 99.99% of the people adhere to some form of religion, are inventions of reason separate from religion?

Reason tells us that in any society, the moral principles will reflect the majority of that society. This is proven by all human societies around the world.

Challenges to Secular Moral Claims

Those who do not believe in religion claim that stealing, committing adultery, using abusive language, insulting others, hitting someone, or killing are all deemed wrong by reason alone. However, this is not proven; they must first establish this claim. Disliking religion and opposing it is merely a whisper and thought from the devil. All moral teachings are gifts from religion.

Those who claim that moral teachings and principles are the products of reason have no evidence to support their claim, and a claim without evidence holds no value. (This is a rational principle.) Why should I believe in religion? Because religion, through all the concepts it teaches, organizes human ethics and helps keep people from straying off the right path.

Another point to be discussed:

Suppose a person claims that they are morally complete without religion. They say that in this human society, they don't harm anyone, and no one harms them, so they live peacefully. (However, this claim of moral completeness based solely on reason is entirely incorrect because when they opened their eyes to this world, they had no idea of what is right and what is wrong—this is undeniable.)

Then they grew up in a society where religion teaches that stealing, committing adultery, killing, and using abusive language are all wrong, while helping others and treating them well are good deeds. They learned all of this. After understanding these concepts of good and evil, they claimed, “This is what my reason has taught me.” This is sheer dishonesty and intellectual and educational theft. They should acknowledge where they learned these values and give credit to that source.

Regardless, let’s assume their reason guided them, and they are following it. Furthermore, they deny the existence of an afterlife or any life beyond this world.

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یہی آرٹیکل اردو میں پڑھنے کے لیے کلک کریں

In contrast to the atheist, a person who follows a religion possesses all the same qualities and virtues that the atheist claims to have. Furthermore, the religious person believes in an afterlife, while the atheist does not. Here, we have two positions: the atheist denies the afterlife, while the religious person affirms it.

In the first case, both may seem equal because they both live good lives. However, in the second case, the religious person is at an advantage because they believe, while the atheist does not. Thus, in this regard, the atheist is at a loss, and the religious person is at a gain. Reason dictates that one should adopt the path that ensures benefit in all situations or maximizes benefits.

     It is also clear that when atheists are asked why they do not believe in an afterlife, they respond that their reason does not accept it. If asked, "What if science and rational evidence prove the existence of an afterlife?" they usually reply, "Then we will accept it."

Keep in mind that it is this very reason that could not conceive certain concepts some time ago, but today science has proven them to be true. If future discoveries validate the existence of an afterlife (this is a hypothetical scenario that atheists deny), what will happen to their beliefs? And if they claim that this is impossible, that claim itself is not accepted by reason, as it lacks rational evidence.

     There are countless matters that people before us could not even imagine, but today they are proven realities. Similarly, what we cannot conceive today may well be proven true in the future.

The essential conclusion of this discussion will be that, in any case, the person who believes in religion is at a greater advantage.

 Author: Muhammad Sohail Arif Moeeni